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Galata Bridge and markets - Istanbul
At the main gate, looking up..
Galata asseen from Topkapi terrace
Upside Down Medusa Head, Basilica Cistern
Hello,
I wounder whether there is an Aquarium and/or amusement parks in Istanbul. By the way, does any one know whether there will be a football match in September? if yes, please tell me where and how to buy tickets. Thank you in advance for your valuable tips.
hello,
have a look at the following website and click on the english link for the answers of your questions;
www.biletix.com
You can try going to Aquaclub Dolphin which has a water park in addition to a seal and dolphin show. I have not been there but plan to do so in July this year.
You can visit the turkish website to get a rough idea:
www.aquaclubdolphin.com/
Blue Mosque (Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I), Sultanahmet Sq. This 17th-century mosque is the only one in Turkey to have six minarets (most have two or four); the mosque also features over 20,000 original Iznik tiles and, on summer evenings, a historical narration and light show.
The Turkish LOVE Attaturk and their flag. (National flag day is Saturday I think) so don't be so stupid as to insult Attaturk or their flag.
If you do, like the three Leeds football supporters who bared their arses to the Turkish flag in the main street of Taksim, you will probably die.
They don't see 'mooning' as funny.
Don't make the OK sign with your hand and hold it low as that is an insult.
------ONE DAY GUIDED CULTURAL CLASSÝC TRIP-----------------------Hagia Sophia----Cistern Basilica-------Million Column-------Sogukcesme Street ( Old Wooden Houses )--------Topkapi Palace--------Sultan Ahmet Fountain------Old S. Ahmet Prison ( now Four Seasons Hotel )-------Great Palace ( Magnaure )--------Blue Mosque------ Old Hippodrom--------Little Hagia Sophia-------Sokullu Mosque-------Kadirga Place-------Armenian Central Church........included a lunch in Topkapi Palace and tea in a turkish kahvehane .......for more info ;;;;; afozbilge@isbank.net.tr Children of Soliman ........................... ( Foto Antoine Aboudjian )
Eyup Mosque
The Great Mosque of Eyup is situated outside the city walls near the Golden Horn where Eyup, standard-bearer of the Prophet Mohammed, died in an assault on Constantinople in 670 A,D. His tomb is greatly venerated and attracts many pilgrims. This was the first mosque built after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul.
I took a taxi there. Almost more than the other in-city mosques, this one had a special feel to it. There are many burial buildings around the mosque, as well as a beautiful cemetary up the hill. If you walk to the top of the hill there's a tiny cafe where you can have a drink and look down over the golden horn. The cafe is named after the famous French writer Pierre Loti, who lived for many years in Istanbul and was in love with the city, and is the ideal place to enjoy this bird’s eye view. Loti, who regarded Turkey as his adopted homeland, came frequently to this coffee house which in his day was known as Rabia Kadýn Coffee House, and it is said that he wrote his novel Aziyade here.
The tombstones are different from those that I have seen other places, and I was told that on the ones that are pillar-like, the top part indicated a person's place in life (how fancy the turban is at the top or something similar).
There are frequently circumcision parades for young boys going on (they are dressed like little band leaders, and they get a parade with their family and then are taken to be circumcized and after that receive gifts while recouperating).
The most charming thing was in the mosque annex where Eyup is buried there were lots of old ladies praying (probably for relatives). I was standing (head covered, off to the side) watching people and thinking about the amazing history, and one of the grandmas handed me a sugar cube, and when I indicated that I didn't understand, she mimed that I should eat it. I was told that basically this is a way of giving thanks and that people bring treats to honor the dead, and if you are given a treat you should say a prayer for the person. I was touched because obviously I wasn't from there, and probably looked very out of place. I just try to be respectful.
Quote snipped about Pierre Loti was taken from a great web page I found with the history of Eyup:
courtesy of Turkish Airlines
The Grand Bazaar is a real MUST in Istanbul, even if you don’t plan to buy anything. Is a real city inside the city, with hundreds of little covered alleys, it’s got its own mosque, fountains, cafes, toilets… In the beginning every artisan group had its quarter and all the shops selling the same were together. Now most of them sell souvenirs, though there are still specific areas for carpets, jewels…
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